MSTP Seminar Spotlight: Dr. Francis Collins Shares Insights on Career and Science
By Yash Pershad (G2)
The MSTP’s weekly seminar recently featured an extraordinary guest: Dr. Francis Collins, renowned physician-geneticist, former NIH director, and leader of the Human Genome Project. In the lobby of Langford Auditorium — a few hundred yards away from the hustle and bustle of Flulapalooza — MSTP students, PSTP-affiliates, and faculty were treated to a wealth of wisdom as Dr. Collins shared his “non-linear” career journey.
Some key takeaways from Dr. Collins’ talk were:
- Resilience in physician-scientist training: Dr. Collins emphasized how the rigorous training path equips future leaders with essential resilience.
- Finding the right environment: He stressed the importance of early-career scientists seeking institutions that nurture growth and innovation, drawing from his experiences at the University of Michigan.
- Collaboration over competition: Dr. Collins shared an inspiring anecdote about transforming competitors into collaborators during his groundbreaking cystic fibrosis research.
- Fearless decision-making by taking smart risks: He advised on making pivotal career choices by trusting one’s instincts and prioritizing projects and ideas with potential to significantly advance human health
The engaging Q&A session covered crucial topics such as:
- Strategies to combat scientific distrust in society as we approach challenges like climate change
- Navigating the intersection of science and faith
- The synergistic potential of public and private sectors in biomedical research
- How the physician-scientist career path is a major NIH priority
Dr. Collins’ visit coincided with his Nashville tour promoting his latest book, “The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust”. His presence and insights were much appreciated by our community – students were lining up after his talk to snag a photo or a selfie.
Finally, as Dr. Collins himself acknowledged, thank you to Marlisa Shaw for rescheduling her G1 talk to enable repurposing of the MSTP seminar time!